Ball Pythons and Latex

[BHReptiles]

I am using printed newspaper in my tubs. I've been using it for about 3 weeks now and I'm getting tired of my hands turning black when I clean tubs. I have a box of latex gloves laying around (I'm a nursing student so I have these in excess) and wanted to use them next time I clean cages. Because I always put the snake in a holding tub while I change the paper, the snakes will come in contact with the latex. Are snakes sensitive to latex? I think I have some nitrile gloves laying around if I need to use those instead. I just don't know where they are.

[JaGv]

what newspaper are you using? i use one called the greensheet i think that i get from a gas station all for free and my hands never go black from the ink. but i don't think latex will harm a snake.

[The Serpent Merchant]

I've used latex gloves with my snakes in the past. None of mine had any reaction to them.

[BHReptiles]

what newspaper are you using? i use one called the greensheet i think that i get from a gas station all for free and my hands never go black from the ink. but i don't think latex will harm a snake.

My family gets the Houston Chronicle every day. I always keep the Sunday paper and the recycle the rest. My fingers turn black pretty easily from that paper. Ironically enough, my snake bellies stay white (I have a mostly white cornsnake and she never has ink marks on her).

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I've used latex gloves with my snakes in the past. None of mine had any reaction to them.

Thank you! I didn't think there would be a problem, but I just wanted to double check before I went touching all my snakes and them have a bad reaction to it.

[Gene Collins]

Vets use latex gloves when they handle snakes on a checkup and such

[CuddleMunkie]

My family gets the Houston Chronicle every day. I always keep the Sunday paper and the recycle the rest. My fingers turn black pretty easily from that paper. Ironically enough, my snake bellies stay white (I have a mostly white cornsnake and she never has ink marks on her).

You know why that is, right? Snake scales aren't porous like our skin. The ink has nothing to stick to. Really nifty, don't ya' think?

But, yeah. Like said above, the vets use latex gloves during handling of creatures, so you should have nothing to worry about.

Sure do wish I had had some whenever I cleaned out the mulch. I got that crap all under my fingernails, not to mention the micro-splinters I attracted that NEVER bothered anyone else. Ugh!

[Mike41793]

The ink washes right off but yea latex gloves would be fine lol.

[S.I.R.]

Latex is fine. However, if you have access to the nitrile gloves you might as well use them. I personally use the blue nitrile gloves in our shop with no problems.